Quitman-Brooks-Statewide County GaArchives News.....A GRAND OLD CHURCH August 27, 1893
************************************************
Copyright. All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm
************************************************
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Clyde Watson clyde.nell@gmail.com August 5, 2009, 7:15 pm
Savannah Morning News August 27, 1893
A GRAND OLD CHURCH
Interesting Services as It's Semi-Centennial Celebration.
Quitman, Ga. Aug. 22--Liberty Baptist Church at Grooverville, in this
county, celebrated it's semi-centennial on Saturday, the 19th of August. The
occasion was a very interesting one, and there was present one of the largest
crowds ever seen at a public gathering in the county. The church as constituted
on the 19th of August 1843, just fifty years to the day from the time of the
celebration of it's semi-centennial. The members who organized the church were
Elisha P. Smith; R. T. Starland; James T. Baker; Nancy Hagan; Sarah A. Groover;
Mary Smith; Amanda Denmark and Sarah Whitfield. All of these names are familiar
one in all of South Georgia, and will be recognized by many old inhabitants all
over this section. Of these members but one Mrs. Sarah A. Groover, is living.
She was present at the celebration exercises, and was the happy recipient of
many good wishes and congratulations. Elders R. J. Mays; Jesse Goodman and
Thomas Lang formed the church's Presbytery at the time of it's organization.
Rev. R. J. Mays, who has many descendants now living in South Georgia was the
church's first pastor. He served not quite two years. The church's other pastors
have been: Rev. B. S. Fuller from 1845 to 1849; Rev. J. B. Lacy from 1849 to
1855; Rev. Z. J. Bluett from 1855 to 1867; Rev. James McBryde from 1867 to 1871;
Rev. C. D. Campbell from 1871 to 1872; and Rev J. M. Rushin from 1872 to present
time, he now being the pastor in charge. The deacons of the church have been;
Brethren T. I. Denmark, ordained in 1844; T. F. Jones, in 1852; J. Densler, in
1859; C. A. Davis, in 1862; R. J. Groover, in 1866; A. W. Groover, in 1869; F,
M, Groover,and J. W. McMullen, in 1878; and J. W. Haddock in 1881.
A MISSIONARY CHURCH
The church has been a missionary body ever since its constitution; and is
the mother of several of the strongest Missionary Baptist churches in this
section, notably among then the church at Boston Georgia, and the one at Hickory
Head in this county. The leading spirit and the prime mover in the organization
was Mrs, Nancy Hagan, whose name is mentioned above as one of the original
members. She is today well remembered by numbers of the older inhabitants of
this section as one of the most remarkable women among the pioneers of this
section. Her descendants in this and adjoining counties in Georgia as well as in
Florida, are numerous, and among them all her name is held in scared reverence.
A part of the programme in the day's exercises was the reading of a poem written
by her over fifty years ago on the dedication of this church. The poem was
recited by her great-great granddaughter, Miss Mary Groover. Another poem
written by her about the same time was recited by her great granddaughter, Miss
Bertha Groover. Ither features of the day were the roll call of members from the
day of the church's organization to the present time. "A History of the Church"
by, Rev. J. M. Rushin, "The Progress of Baptist Principles During Fifty Years"by
Capt. J. G. McCall, and brief sketches of the older pastors and members by
different ones. Delegates and representatives from over twenty other churches in
this section were present.
Old Liberty Baptist Church is one of the Missionary Baptist churches in the
state, it's name is familiar to all Baptist in the state and will be glad to
learn that it is still in a flourishing condition.
File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/quitman/newspapers/agrandol2819nw.txt
This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/
File size: 4.1 Kb